No plans to host IPL in England: Modi

Indian Premier League Commissioner Lalit Modi has said the IPL is a domestic league with global appeal which will be played only on Indian soil.

Written by Press Trust of India

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New Delhi:

Indian Premier League (IPL) Commissioner Lalit Modi has dismissed reports that the second edition of the Twenty20 extravaganza would be co-hosted by England, saying the IPL is a domestic league with global appeal which will be played only on Indian soil.

"Right off the drawing board we were certain that the Indian Premier League was not just a domestic league with limited appeal for the Indian cricket fan but a global league that would draw in viewership across a global diaspora of fans from around the world, making the IPL one of the most watched sporting spectacles in modern day sport.

"But we have no plans to host IPL in England. It's a domestic league which will be played in India," Modi said.

Some media reports had stated that the second edition of the cash-rich IPL, which is scheduled for April-May next year, was expected to be split with five weeks of action in India and three weeks in England.

Modi, who is a BCCI vice president, also hoped that English cricketers, who missed out on the inaugural edition after ECB restricted them for domestic competitions, will feature in the event soon.

"The IPL has garnered huge interests from players across the world and the English are no different. IPL will be holding a fresh player auction on February 6 2009 and I am certain that the quality of talent available to the franchisees on offer will be similar if not better than what was available during the historic first ever player auction held last year.

"It is only a matter of time before everybody are made aware of all the players from England and across the world that want to be a part of the IPL," he was quoted as saying by sportzpower.com.